Summary: Speaking Points by EU Commissioner Rehn: "May 2006 Monitoring Report on Bulgaria's and Romania's progress towards accession" (Strasbourg: 16 May 2006)
Speaking Points by Olli Rehn, Member of the European Commission, "May 2006 Monitoring Report on Bulgaria's and Romania's progress towards accession" , Presentation in the EP
.Mr President, Honourable Members,
On the 1st of May, we celebrated the second anniversary of the latest enlargement. Looking at past two years, we have every reason to be satisfied and proud, even though there was no lack of doomsday scenarios. Yet the Cassandras were proven wrong.
We can succeed equally well in the cases of Bulgaria and Romania. Both countries are working hard to tackle the remaining shortcomings to fully meet the criteria of accession.
The Commission's duty is to assess the progress made by the two countries to see if they are truly ready for accession. It is our goal to welcome Bulgaria and Romania as members in 2007 - but it is our duty, as the guardian of the treaties, to ensure that once they join, they really meet the conditions.
Hence, when we last met in late April, I promised you a carefully calibrated decision that maintains the momentum of reforms up to and beyond accession. Now you have such a decision: Bulgaria and Romania may join in January 2007 on the condition that they show the necessary resolve, mentality and results in tackling the outstanding shortcomings. By early October, we report on their progress and consider whether the date can be maintained.
Bulgaria and Romania have already undergone a monitoring process that is unprecedented in its scope and intensity. Let me begin with the political criteria. While much has been achieved, there is still room for further progress. It is necessary to effectively implement the reform of the justice system and to reinforce the fight against corruption, particularly at high level.
Bulgaria needs to seriously intensify its efforts to crack down on organised crime and corruption. She also needs to demonstrate clear evidence of results in the fight against corruption, in terms of investigations and judicial proceedings.
Building on the progress made Romania, needs to continue its efforts and show further results in the fight against corruption.
In the area of human rights and the rights of minorities, further efforts are needed by Bulgaria and Romania.
Turning to the economic criteria, the transformation of Bulgaria and Romania is a remarkable success that benefits us all. They have registered robust growth in the last years, creating a zone of much-needed economic dynamism at our South-Eastern corner.
As regards the EU legal order, significant progress has been achieved and most of the areas are unproblematic, provided that the current pace of preparations is maintained. However, in some areas the preparations require increased efforts, and we also have certain issues of serious concern. Unless the countries take immediate and decisive corrective action, they will not be ready in these areas at the envisaged date of accession.
Since October, the areas of serious concern have been brought down from 16 to 6 in Bulgaria and from 14 to 4 in Romania. They include certain agricultural, food safety and veterinary issues, and the control and management of EU funds.
Should these serious concerns persist, we would not hesitate to use all our remedial tools. Our report specifies the safeguards and other protective measures under the existing legislation that we have at our disposal. These safeguards could be invoked in case certain limited problems persist at accession in the areas of the internal market and justice and home affairs, where we can establish a monitoring mechanism based on the Act of Accession.
On the use of EU money, the acquis will require a suspension of payments in case of serious problems. In agriculture, we propose novel, even stricter measures, based on the Accession Treaty. This sends a strong signal that we are careful with our money.
President, Honourable Members,
I trust that today's carefully calibrated decision and its rigour will convince the national parliaments that have not yet ratified the Accession Treaty to do so. The Treaty itself includes the conditions, safeguards and monitoring mechanisms that ensure the countries can join only once they are ready, and once they have joined, they must respect their obligations as members.
Let me express our appreciation for the support of the European Parliament for the accession process of Bulgaria and Romania. As agreed between President Barroso and President Borrell last year, we have carefully listened to your views before presenting our position on whether or not to postpone the accessions. I am sure this constructive, transparent and rigorous approach will bring the best results for Bulgaria, Romania, and for Europe.
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